Another chain lube? Yeah, that was my first reaction, too. There has been no shortage of new, quality chain lubes lately, with everything from Pumpkin Spice to Super Secret formulas. But instead of another take on wax, Wolf Tooth Components has finally released their WT-1 All Conditions Chain Lube – and it’s worth checking out.
Is it blue? Is it green? Whatever you want to call it, WT-1 is quite colorful which helps you see where it’s been applied.
Calling it an All Conditions Synthetic Chain Lube, Wolf Tooth WT-1 boasts properties of dry lube, wet lube, chain cleaner, and a drivetrain treatment all in one. Sounds too good to be true. But then again, that’s what led Wolf Tooth Components to partner with SCC Tech to bring WT-1 to market.
What does that mean? If means that you should end up with a very clean chain lube that lasts a claimed 3-5x longer than the competition. WTC calls out the fact that WT-1 is 95% chain lube and 5% carrier fluid. Other chain lubes can be as low as 20-50% lubricant. But even with most of the fluid being an actual lubricant, the WT-1 fluid is still a low enough viscosity to easily flow into the rollers and fully coat the chain.
Additionally, a “detergent-like additive” is included to clean your chain as it lubricates. That forces all those contaminants to the surface where they can be wiped away. The lubricant is said to then bond to the metal plates of the chain to protect all surfaces, decreasing wear.
WT-1 Claims:
- Cleans lubricates and protects chains
- Peak performance in all conditions
- An optimal choice for complex modern drivetrains
- Available in 2.0 and 0.5 fl oz bottles, sold individually and by the box
- Easy to use; the application takes about 10 minutes
- Also works on other places of your bike, including hubs, cables, and pulley wheels
First Impressions
From the very first application, three things stood out about WT-1 chain lube. It goes on very bluish-green, it flows easily through the chain, and the self-cleaning claims seem to be true.
I started by adding a drop of WT-1 to each roller of a very well-used SRAM Eagle 12 speed chain. Initially, it shows up as bright blue, making you think it’s going to make a mess of everything it touches. But that blue quickly fades as it works its way into the chain after a few pedal rotations.
Soon, you’ll start to see all the gunk hidden inside your chain work its way to the surface where it can be wiped away. I was surprised to even see tiny bits of metal on the rag after the first application.
It will continue to clean the chain for the first few rides, and WTC recommends wiping off the chain at the end of the ride, but not adding more chain lube until it really needs it.
Application
One of the biggest selling points of Wolf Tooth WT-1 seems to be the ease of application. There’s no need to clean the chain upfront, and you don’t have to be super careful in how much lube is applied to the chain. The process should only take about 10 minutes, and most of that is waiting before the final wipe down.
WTC Application directions:
- Shake a bottle of WT-1 for 30 seconds. A ball bearing is present in every bottle to help mix things up.
- Apply one drop to each roller of your chain. We recommend applying WT-1 Chain Lube to the top side of your chain between your derailleur and chainring, just in front of that lower pulley wheel.
- Backpedal 20-30 times. This helps WT-1 Chain Lube find its way between all the pieces of your chain.
- Wait 5-10 minutes. Pretty simple.
- Wipe the chain with a microfiber cloth until it appears clean with a light sheen. It’ll look extra dirty at first, then it will clear up as you wipe away that dirt.
- Ride your bike. Reapply at least once every 400 miles.
Pricing and Availability:
Available in individual 2.0 oz bottles for $18.95, there’s also a smaller 0.5 oz bottle sold for $6.95. Cases of 12 2.0 oz bottles will also be available for shops. Everything is available now.
